Folding machine



Nov. 13, 1934. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fatented Nov. 13, 1934.

PATENT OFFICE 1.980.532 ronnmo mom I Leo M. Kahn, New York, N. Y., minor, by mesne assignments, to American Laundry Machinery Company, Ohio Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Application May 3, 1930, Serial No. 449,593 6 Claims. (Cl. 270-83) This invention relates to folding machines and particularly to the type in which fingers kick up the article between a pair of rollers along the line of fold. In the construction of this type folding machines at the present time, the folding mechanism comprises a plurality of fingers mountedon a bar. which is operatively connected to an actuating mechanism. This mechanism lifts the entire section of wedge shaped fingers between the tapes and wedge the article between a pair of rollers which propel it away in folded condition. 7

One of the objects of this invention is to provide for the actuation of any number of fingers that may be necessary to fold an article of any width.

Another object is to provide for the selection of the number of fingers by the article to be folded, depending entirely upon the width of the arti- A further object is the attainment of the coupling and uncoupling of the fingers automatically.

Other objects include simplicity of construction and positiveness of action.

These and other objects are attained by a device described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings forming a part thereof and the novel improvements will be set forthin the claims. r

In the drawings, 1

Fig. 1 shows an elevation view of a folding machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an alternate diagram for actuatin the fingers by means of compressed air.

On a frame 10 are rollers 11 carrying tapes 12 and 13 and driven by a motor 14 through the transmission 15. Articles 18 are adapted to pass between the tapes l2 and 13 and are carried by them toward a folder 1'7 which comprises essen -I tially a plurality of fingers 18 adapted to be moved up between the tapes 12 and 13 and wedge the article to be folded between rollers 19 and 20.

The folder actuating mechanism comprises in the particular embodiment here illustrated, a

constantly revolving shaft 21, electromagnets 22 loosely mounted on the shaft 21 but adapted to grlppingly engage the shaft and revolve therewith when they are energized. The drums of the electromagnets 22 have cams 23 which are adapted to actuate levers 24 rotatably mounted on rod 25.

The other ends 26 of levers 24 are forked and the folders 27 are mounted between the fork members 26 so as to lift the wedge shaped fingers 18 when the levers 24 are actuated by the cams 23. I

The article 16 is adapted to actuate a measuring switch 29 for selecting theratio of fold and is here shown electrically connected to a timing device 30 for timing the actuation of the folder when the article is in folding relation to the 85 folder. In the proximity of the folder 1'! and likewise in the path of the articles 16 are contactors 31 adapted to be actuated by the articles in passing over them. These contactors 31, one

for each finger l8 bridge a pair of terminals 35 and 36 which are preferably electrically connected to the timing device 30 and thecoils 32 of electromagnets 22 through brushes 33 and rings 34 and to the other contactors.

The control of the actuation of the fingers may be accomplished electrically as shown in Fig. 3,.

which shows the power applied through a switch 37 connected to the timer-distributor 30. Each electromagnet coil 32 is connected between the line and terminal 36. Switch 31 in line with measuring switch 29 is connected to the timer 30, each article is fed so as to actuate at least one of the switches 31' the other switches 31 are connected to the next adjacent terminals 35, so that the circuit in each electromagnet coil 32 is closed if the contactor 31 corresponding thereto contacts its terminals 35 and 36. A plurality of measuring switches 29 and timing devices 30 may be connected to control the actuation of folding as many articles.

The operation of the electrical device is as follows: The article passing between tapes 12 and 13 actuates and releases the switch 29'by the front and touching and the rear end leaving it, respectively, and thereby motivates the timing device 30, so that when thepredetermlned line of fold of the article dividing same in the desired ratio of fold has reached a position directly over the fingers 18, it will actuate the folder, provided the contactor 31 is depressed by the article, so that terminal 36 is contacted. The article is usually more than one finger wide, since tapes and fingers are relatively narrow, but on the contrary, may cover a large number of contactors, as would be in the case of large sheets or table cloths. Accordingly, one measuring switch will control the time of actuation of that number of adjacent fingers as are under the article to be folded, since the number of contactors 31 corresponding to the width of the article will be depressed and there- 1o",

- The control of the actuation of the fingers may be accomplished pneumatically as shown in Fig. 4, in which the timers are shown by and control the flow of air through pipes 38, 39' to the cross pipe 40 through valves 41. Depressible members 31" open the valves 41 by depressing buttons 42 so that air is admitted to the pipes 43 and actuating chamber 44 to lift the finger.

.18. The air passes only into those chambers 44 which correspond to the members 31" which in turn correspond to the width of the article folded. Various other control mechanisms may be used to accomplish this result.

A very flexible device is thus obtained which is fully automatic in that the article selects the number of fingers required to fold it. Greatest economy of space is thus effected or maximum efilciency is obtained in a given machine.

Simple positive means are shown whereby a greatly improved folding machine is made possible.

It will thus be seen that the embodiments of the various features of this invention have been fully described, that they attain the various objects of the invention and are well suited to the requirements of practical use. Of course, many changes can be made in the above construction. Also many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof.

It is therefore intended that allmatter contained in the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Accordingly, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding device of the class-described in combination of means for carrying an article to be folded, afolding mechanism comprising a plurality of independently operated fingers arranged in alignment transversely of the direction of movement of the article to be folded, conveyor tapes spaced apart and having a contact switch therebetween, electrical connections between said switch and said fingers whereby the depression of one switch will actuate a connecting finger and means for preventing such actuation when said switch is not depressed.

2. In a folding device of the class described, a

' measuring devicev for determining the line of fold, a plurality of folding devices arranged transversely to the movement of the article, conveyor tapes spaced apart to convey the article to-said folding mechanism individual folding fingers adapted to' tuck the article between said folding mechanism, contact switches between said conveying tapes and having electrical connections whereby each finger is actuated individually and independently of the others.

3. In a folding device of the class describedfthe combination ofmeans for carrying the article to be folded through the machine, a line of fold determining mechanism, plurality and individually operated folding blades or fingers arranged transversely of the direction of movement of the article, electrical connections between said. folding fingers and said line of fold determining mechanism, contact switches placed in I direct alignment and individually connected to each folding blade and means whereby clos' H of i one switch by the article will effect electrical donnection to the adjoining switch when closed by that portion of the article in contact therewith.

4. In a folding device of the class described the combination of conveyor tapes spaced apart for conveying articles. through the machine, a folding mechanism comprising revolving rolls placed in close proximity to said tapes, a plurality of individually operated fingers adapted to move between said tapes to effect a fold, a measuring device and electrical connection between said measuring device and one of said fingers, contact switches placed between said tapes and adapted to be closed by the article according to its width, connections between one contact switch and the measuring device for actuating said fingers through the tapes to present the article to the folding rdlls, and means whereby electrical energy will pass 'from one of said contact switches to other contact switches ticles to a folding mechanism, switches between said conveying tapes a plurality of folding fingers arranged transversely in direction of the movement of the article, a revolving shaft adapted to actuate said folding fingers, solenoids connected to said switches and adapted to impart movement to' said fingers from said revolving shaft and electrical connections controlled by said switches for controlling said solenoids for affecting the movement of the folding fingers.

6. In a folding machine of the class described 1 5 comprising conveying means for an article to the folding means, a measuring device for determining the line of fold, a plurality of individually electrically controlled fingers arranged transversely to the movement of the article and adapted to present .the article to the folding means, electrical means separate from the measuring means and adapted to control each individual finger to present that portion of an article controlled by the electrical means in direct alignment with the article asdt travels to the folding means, to be actuatedwhen the line of fold is determined by .the measuring device.

- LEO M. KAHN. 

